Contouring Tips: Defined Brow & Face

Please welcome my beautiful sister Victoria to the QC Beauty Buzz! She kindly let me use her as my canvas for this look that I’m very excited to share with you. I decided to incorporate a couple techniques in this post. We are going to touch on creating a nice defined brow as well as an easy, everyday contour that will look natural and seamless.

Let’s start with the brows…

Since this look is all about the brows and cheek bones I just did a very simple matte neutral shadow with a simple winged liner and lashes.

1. Brush the brow hairs upwards with a spoolie. A spoolie is your best friend when creating an awesome brow. I went back in with the spoolie and softened after every step!

2. Use a powder or cream to fill in the brow. Use an angled brow brush that is nice and dense. This way you can really brush the product through the brow, blending and softening for a more natural look. Start your application where you brow needs it most. Sometimes we make the mistake of just starting at the front, that may not be where we want the most definition. I like to start at the top of the arch in the middle of the brow, blending down and out. Use a technique that works best for the brow shape you’re working with!

3. This step is optional but sometimes I like to go in with a brow pen to sharpen up the edges if that’s the look I’m going for. As the first half of the brow tends to be fuller, here on Victoria I used it to add a bit more definition to the second half, accentuating the arch/tail of the brow that much more.

4. Take a brightening concealer and outline the brow, cleaning up any areas you may have smudged out. Doing this will also help to lift the brows nicely!

Next up, complexion…

I am going to demonstrate on Victoria a simple “everyday” contour. There is a big misconception about contouring and highlighting. Drawing very distinct and graphic lines is going to look very noticeable in person. Although we all love the ultra contoured look on Kimmy K, in the real world that can look a little over the top—although FABulous in photos!

1. Start by applying a sheer wash of coverage to the skin. Depending on you or your clients complexion use a fuller coverage if needed. The reason I suggest using something more sheer/light in coverage is because in contouring and highlighting we are adding more coverage with those products and we don’t want the look to become cakey and unflattering.

2. Apply your contour and highlight. Here on Victoria I used a concealer that just about matched her skin tone but maybe a wee bit lighter. I applied it under the eyes in the triangle formation, between the brows up onto the center of the forehead, down the bridge of the nose, on the chin and cupids bow. Next I applied a liquid contour along the top of her forehead (which I will later blend into the hairline, carefully, as not to make her blonde hair look dirty), along the sides of her nose, along the hollows of her cheeks and cupids bow.

After I finish applying the contour and highlight, I let it sit on the skin for just a minute or so, to somewhat make it’s mark and absorb. Then, for a more natural look, I go in with a kabuki brush blending out and softening everything!

3. I then set the concealer with a brightening powder, I apply this everywhere I applied the lighter concealer as our highlight. Then I dust a little bit of translucent setting powder over the whole look.

4. Finish the look with bronzer (along the same areas you applied your contour to help accentuate the look), blush and illuminator!

Here is a look at the finished product!

I finished the lips with a super pale pink as not to draw away from the amazing brows and cheekbones! Keeping the eyes and lips simple will make the rest of the look pop even more.

Hope you guys enjoyed this tutorial—try it out for your next night out or just a regular day where you have a few extra minutes and want to look extra fab!

Brittany Hall has established herself as a freelance makeup artist, with over five years experience in the industry. She’s also an established blogger on “Makeup by Brittany”, where she blogs about fashion, beauty, home decor, and makeup. She brings her flair to the QC blog with regular posts about her experience in the beauty biz.

12 responses to “Contouring Tips: Defined Brow & Face”

Hi Brittany, I’ve seen your work and tutorials on Youtube.com and have used some of your techniques on my models. I’ve always had a little problem with contouring because I realize that not one single person has the same skin tone all over their face. I now use two separate foundations and after the foundation is set (I use a hand held fan or a small mini fan), I then contour the outer forehead, underneath the cheek bones, underneath the chin bones, (for structure) the sides of the bridge of the nose and sometimes I’m asked to deepen their clefts or dimples. I do however use a rice powder to set my makeup and swear by “Faceatelier” ultra matte spray. I’ve used it several times on Photo shoots and Brides and they love it! One bride didn’t get to wash her face before she went to bed at 3 AM, but she had a shower, kept her face dry and the makeup looked as fresh as when I put it on the afternoon before! I did however, let her know that she can wash her face as I had given her a little makeup case with samples of the makeup I used on her for touch ups, but she just didn’t want to take off her makeup she loved so much! Lol Go figure! Anyway, just wanted to tell you I like your blogs and will continue to check on them every now and then to see what next you’ve done! Have a great makeup day!